Jump to content

Mario Balotelli: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
mNo edit summary
mNo edit summary
Line 24: Line 24:
| years3 = 2010–
| years3 = 2010–
| clubs3 = [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]
| clubs3 = [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]
| caps3 = 3
| caps3 = 4
| goals3 = 2
| goals3 = 3
| nationalyears1 = 2008–
| nationalyears1 = 2008–
| nationalteam1 = [[Italy national under-21 football team|Italy U21]]
| nationalteam1 = [[Italy national under-21 football team|Italy U21]]

Revision as of 21:40, 7 November 2010

Mario Balotelli
Personal information
Full name Mario Barwuah Balotelli
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s) Striker[1]
Team information
Current team
 Manchester City
Number 45
Youth career
2001–2006 Lumezzane
2006–2007 Internazionale
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2006 Lumezzane 2 (0)
2007–2010 Internazionale 59 (20)
2010– Manchester City 4 (3)
International career‡
2008– Italy U21 16 (6)
2010– Italy 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 7 November 2010
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10 August 2010

Mario Barwuah Balotelli[2] (born 12 August 1990) is an Italian footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester City.[3][4]

Known for his pace, technical ability, and petulant attitude, Balotelli (often nicknamed Super Mario[5][6]) can play anywhere along the front line. He is a set-piece specialist and regarded as a promising yet fiery young striker.[6][7][8][9]

Early life

Balotelli was born to Ghanaian immigrants Thomas and Rose Barwuah in the Italian city of Palermo. The family moved to Bagnolo Mella in the province of Brescia, Lombardy shortly after Balotelli was born.[10] As a youngster, Balotelli had life-threatening complications with his intestines which led to a series of operations, but his condition improved by spring 1992. However Mario's health problems and cramped lifestyle meant the Barwuahs decided to ask for the help of social services who recommended that Mario should be fostered.[10] In 1993, at the age of three, the Barwuah family agreed to entrust Mario to Francesco and Silvia Balotelli[10], with the legal move successively formalized by the Court of Brescia.[11] Balotelli later accused his biological parents of "glory hunting", stating that they only wanted him back when he became famous.[12] They lived in Concesio, a town and comune in Brescia. According to Law 91 of 5 February 1992,[13] Balotelli had to wait until his 18th birthday in order to request Italian citizenship, as his adoption was never made definitive, which he officially gained on 13 August 2008.[14]

Club career

Lumezzane

Balotelli began his career with Lumezzane. At the age of 15, he was promoted to the senior side, making his senior debut in a Serie C1 league match against Padova.[15]

Internazionale

Having had an unsuccessful trial with Barcelona aged 15,[16] Internazionale signed Balotelli on loan from Lumezzane with an option to purchase in 2006. He started in their under-17 squad then joined the Primavera under-20 team at the age of 16. He scored a tie-breaking penalty into the Primavera league final 1–0 win over Sampdoria, prompting high praise from people including Inter chairman Massimo Moratti.[17]

Balotelli made his first team and Serie A debut in December 2007, replacing David Suazo in a 2–0 win against Cagliari. Three days later, he featured in the starting lineup in a Coppa Italia match against Reggina, scoring two goals in a 4–1 win.[18] Balotelli gained national attention after he scored two goals against Juventus in the return leg of the Coppa Italia quarter-finals, being instrumental in a 3–2 away win for the Nerazzurri.[19] His first Serie A goal then came in April 2008 in a 2-0 away win against Atalanta.[20] Inter went on to win the 2007–08 scudetto.[21] Balotelli was a substitute in the 2008 Supercoppa Italiana final against Roma. He came on as a replacement for Luís Figo, scoring in the 83rd minute. Inter went on to win the final 6–5 on penalties after the match ended 2–2.

Balotelli in 2008

Before the start of the 2008–09 season Balotelli signed a three-year contract with Inter.[22] The maximum length he could sign.[23] In November 2008, he scored his first Champions League goal, against Cypriot side Anorthosis Famagusta, becoming the youngest Inter player ever to score in the Champions League. At 18 years and 85 days he beat the previous record set by Obafemi Martins, at 18 years and 145 days.[citation needed] In April 2009, Balotelli scored Inter's goal in a 1–1 draw with Juventus, and was racially abused by Juventus fans throughout the game, including chants such as "a Black Italian does not exist".[24] This led to Massimo Moratti saying that he would have pulled his team off if he had been present.[25] The racist chants were also condemned by Juventus chairman Giovanni Cobolli Gigli.[24] Juventus were handed a one game home fan ban because of the incident.[26] Inter won the Serie A for the fourth time in a row.[27][28]

Zlatan Ibrahimović with Balotelli

In his second season with Inter's first team, Balotelli had a number of disciplinary problems, most notably involving Inter head coach José Mourinho who excluded him from the senior team in the second half of January. The Portuguese boss stated "as far as I'm concerned, a young boy like him cannot allow himself to train less than people like Figo, Córdoba, and Zanetti."[29] Earlier that season Mourinho had accused Balotelli of showing a lack of effort in training.[30] Balotelli also continued to be attacked with racist chants throughout the season, becoming the focus of Juventus fans even during games not involving Internazionale at all; such choruses then led to Juventus being fined twice and the club ultimately being punished with a partial stadium closure due to repeated racist chants.[31]

Balotelli's disciplinary problems and difficult relationship with Mourinho continued in the 2009–10 season. In November, Inter drew 1–1 against Roma and Mourinho criticized his players, even going as far as saying that Balotelli "came close to a zero rating".[32] The young striker again incurred the wrath of Juve fans in the heated Derby d'Italia away encounter with Juventus on 5 December 2009 which Inter lost 2–1. When he was elbowed by Juve midfielder Felipe Melo in the shoulder, he fell on the pitch clutching his face and was promptly booked while Melo was sent off for a second yellow card. The incident sparked a fiery altercation between teammate Thiago Motta and Juve goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.[33][34] The falling-out between player and manager reached its peak in the eve of the UEFA Champions League second leg against Chelsea, after the young striker was not called-up following an altercation with Mourinho.[35] The youngster was then criticized by several senior players such as captain Javier Zanetti[36] and veteran defender Marco Materazzi as well as his own agent.[37] in the wake of Inter's 1–0 win at Stamford Bridge, London. In March, he came under heavy criticism from fans after he publicly sported a Milan (Inter's crosstown rivals) jersey on the Italian show Striscia la Notizia.[38]

In the wake of recent tense situation, Balotelli released a statement of apology in Internazionale's official website, that reads:

"I am sorry for the situation that has been created recently. I am the first person who has suffered because I adore football and I want to play, and now I am waiting in silence so I can return to being useful to my team. I want to put the past behind me, look to the future and concentrate on the upcoming commitments and make myself ready." Mario Balotelli[39]

After being frozen out of the team due to the situation, Balotelli was recalled to the squad for the match against Bologna and he marked his return with a goal in a 3–0 win.[40] However, he once again caused controversy in a Champions League semi-final against Barcelona on 20 April, as he threw his jersey on the ground after the final whistle, in response to Inter fans who had booed him to criticize his poor performance;[41] his reaction, which caused notable disappointment among fans, teammates and football pundits, was succeeded by an attempt by a small group of supporters to physically attack Balotelli after the end of the game.[42]

After such events, Balotelli was excluded from a string of games, including the second leg of the Champions League semifinal versus Barcelona, but was successively featured in the remaining two matches of the Italian league that led Inter to win its 18th national title, as well as the fifth one in a row.


Manchester City

After weeks of speculation about his future, on 12 August 2010 Inter and Manchester City reached an agreement on Balotelli's transfer to England, believed to be around £24 million, which was made official the following day after the player successfully completed a medical. At Manchester City, Balotelli rejoined his former boss Roberto Mancini.[43]

On 19 August 2010, Balotelli came on as a substitute to score on his debut against FC Timişoara in a 1–0 away win in the Europa League.[44] In that match he also injured the lateral meniscus in his right knee. On 8 September he underwent surgery that would see him sidelined untill October.[45] Balotelli made his Premier League debut as a substitute on 24 October in a 0-3 home defeat to Arsenal and made his full debut on 30 October in a 2-1 away defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers. Balotelli scored his first and second Premier League goals on the 7th November in a 0-2 win away to West Brom. In the same game Balotelli received a red card for 'violent conduct' as the result of an innocuous clash with Youssuf Mulumbu, which his manager Roberto Mancini described as unfair in a post match interview, stating;

"I absolutely do not agree with the referee about this sending-off, a red card for what? He played a fantastic game, he scored two goals, but the sending off was very strange. I want to know why it was a direct red card. For me this is not correct and the referee must explain". Roberto Mancini [46]

International career

Due to bureaucratic problems Balotelli was unable to answer call-ups to the Italian national under-15 and under-17 teams, as he was still considered to be a Ghanaian immigrant.[47]

On 7 August 2007, five days before his 17th birthday, Balotelli received his first senior International call-up from Ghana coach Claude Le Roy for a friendly against Senegal at the New Den stadium in London, England on 21 August 2007.[48] However, he declined the offer citing once again his willingness to play for Italy when he becomes eligible.[49] He also stated his willingness to represent Italy at international level once he acquired an Italian passport.[50]

Italy U-21 coach Pierluigi Casiraghi stated his intention to call up Balotelli once he obtained Italian citizenship. On 13 August 2008, Balotelli was finally given Italian citizenship,[51] so Casiraghi called him on 29 August to join the Azzurrini for the matches against Greece and Croatia.[52] On his debut the 5 September 2008 he scored his first international goal in a 1–1 draw with Greece U-21's, then scored two goals against Israel in the 2009 Euro U-21 qualification play-offs.[53]

In February 2009, Italy under-21 coach Pierluigi Casiraghi criticised Balotelli after he missed a flight to Trieste where Casiraghi was holding a training session. Balotelli was alleged to have overslept and had to drive there himself to join the rest of the team.[54]

Balotelli was named in the final 23-man squad for the 2009 European Championships and scored the opening goal against the hosts Sweden in the 23rd minute. Barely 15 minutes later, he was then shown a straight red card for retaliating at Swedish defender Pontus Wernbloom but Italy managed to win 2–1.[55] Italy topped their group to advance in the competition and Balotelli returned for the semifinal against Germany but the Azzurrini lost 1–0.

Despite widespread criticism in the media,[56] Balotelli was called up for the Italian Under-21 match against Hungary. In the 2–0 victory Balotelli was singled out for his impressive performance.[57] Many pundits who watched the game publicly called on Italy coach Marcello Lippi to call him up to the senior squad.[58]

Balotelli received his first call-up for the Italy senior team as part of the squad announced by new head coach Cesare Prandelli for a friendly match against Côte d'Ivoire, the first match after the 2010 World Cup.[59] On 10 August 2010, two days before his 20th birthday, he made his debut in that match partnering Cassano and Amauri, in a 1-0 loss.[60]

Honours

Internazionale

Career statistics

Correct as of 30 October 2010[citation needed]

Club Season League Europe Cup and Supercup Total
Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists
Internazionale 2007–08 11 3 3 0 0 0 4 4 0 15 7 3
2008–09 22 8 1 6 1 2 3 1 0 31 10 3
2009–10 26 9 6 8 1 1 6 1 1 40 11 8
Total 59 20 10 14 2 3 13 6 1 86 28 14
Manchester City 2010–11 3 2 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 5 0
Total 3 2 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 5 3 0
Career total 61 20 10 15 3 3 13 6 1 90 28 14

References

  1. ^ a b Mario Balotelli Profile
  2. ^ "Barwuah Balotelli Mario" (in Italian). FC Internazionale Milano. Retrieved 18 October 2008.
  3. ^ "Balotelli saluta l'Italia "Ho bisogno di giocare"" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. 13 August 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
  4. ^ "Balotelli signs for City". Manchester City FC. 13 August 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
  5. ^ Super Mario Balotelli can win title for Manchester City - Daily Mail, 29 July 2010
  6. ^ a b Super Mario Balotelli's cartoon capers worth hassle for Manchester City - Daily Telegraph, 27 July 2010
  7. ^ "Inter, c'è un Fenomeno in casa" (in Italian). Alice Sport. 16 November 2006. Retrieved 16 November 2006. [dead link]
  8. ^ "Barcelona eyeing Inter Milan Allievi whiz Balotelli". Tribalfootball.com. 9 October 2006. Retrieved 9 October 2006. [dead link]
  9. ^ "Can Balotelli silence the racist taunts?". London: The Independent. 11 December 2009. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  10. ^ a b c Williamson, Laura; Pisa, Nick (5 August 2010). "Mario Balotelli's double life: The bitter family feud that haunts the £29m Manchester City target". London: Daily Mail. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
  11. ^ "Balotelli, il figlio campione che si è dimenticato di noi" (in Italian). Corriere della Sera. 12 October 2008. Retrieved 18 October 2008.
  12. ^ Davies, Christopher (11 June 2008). "Inter's Balotelli accuses biological parents". London: Daily Mail. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
  13. ^ "Italian citizenship". Comune di Torino. 6 March 2006. Retrieved 6 March 2006.
  14. ^ "Inter's Balotelli gets Italian citizenship". Italymag.co.uk. 15 August 2008. Retrieved 16 May 2009.
  15. ^ "Biography". Mario Balotelli Official Website. Retrieved 16 May 2009. [dead link]
  16. ^ Williamson, Laura; Pisa, Nick (5 August 2010). "Mario Balotelli's double life: The bitter family feud that haunts the £29m Manchester City target". Daily Mail. London.
  17. ^ "Moratti: Who needs Pato?". Channel 4. 19 August 2007. Archived from the original on 12 January 2008. Retrieved 19 August 2007.
  18. ^ "Balotelli Biography". Football Database. Retrieved 16 May 2009.
  19. ^ "A star is born in Milan:Mario Balotelli". Soccer Lens. 31 January 2008. Retrieved 16 May 2009.
  20. ^ "Inter Milan 2–0 Atalanta". Italian Soccer Serie A. 6 April 2008. Retrieved 16 May 2009.
  21. ^ "Parma 0–2 Inter Milan". ESPN. 18 May 2008. Retrieved 16 May 2009.
  22. ^ "Balotelli signs new contract with Inter". Inter.it. 26 August 2008. Retrieved 26 August 2008.
  23. ^ Article 33, NOIF of Italian Football Federation (FIGC)
  24. ^ a b "Juve president slams own fans for racist chants". Reuters. 19 April 2009. Retrieved 20 April 2009. [dead link]
  25. ^ Meadows, Mark (20 April 2009). "Inter president chides Juve fans for racist chants". Reuters. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  26. ^ "Juve punished over racial abuse". BBC Sport. 20 April 2009. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
  27. ^ "Chievo hold Inter". Eurosport. 10 May 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2009. [dead link]
  28. ^ "Mourinho wins Serie A with Inter". BBC Sport. 16 May 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
  29. ^ "Mourinho gets tough with Balotelli". FIFA. 12 January 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
  30. ^ "Moratti: Mourinho Right To Show Balotelli Fist Of Steel". Goal.com. 1 December 2008. Retrieved 18 May 2009. [dead link]
  31. ^ "Juve fans continue to bait Balotelli". AFP. 17 January 2010. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  32. ^ "Jose Mourinho savages 'awful' Internazionale players". London: The Guardian. 9 November 2009. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  33. ^ "Juventus 2–1 Internazionale: Marchisio magic seals Juve win over Inter". espn.com. 6 December 2009.
  34. ^ "La meglio gioventù" (in Italian). La Stampa. 7 December 2009.
  35. ^ Fifield, Dominic (2010-03-15). "I should still be manager at Chelsea, says José Mourinho". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 2010-03-19.
  36. ^ "Inter Milan captain Zanetti urges Balotelli to get head down and work". TribalFootball.com. 2010-03-16. Retrieved 2010-03-19.
  37. ^ "Materazzi questions Balotelli attitude". ESPN. 2010-03-17. Retrieved 2010-03-19.
  38. ^ "Tapiro a Balotelli Mario indossa la maglia del Milan" (in Italian). La Stampa. 22 March 2010.
  39. ^ "Mario Balotelli statement". www.inter.it. 1 April 2010. Retrieved 1 April 2010.
  40. ^ "Mourinho name squad for Inter vs Bologna". www.inter.it. 2 April 2010. Retrieved 2 April 2010.
  41. ^ "Inter round on Balotelli". SKY Sports. 2010-04-21. Retrieved 2010-04-22.
  42. ^ "Booed Balotelli throws jersey And fans try to attack him". La Gazzetta dello Sport. 2010-04-20. Retrieved 2010-04-22.
  43. ^ "Man City complete Balotelli deal". BBC News. 13 August 2010.
  44. ^ "FC Timisoara 0 - 1 Man City". BBC Sport. 2010-08-19. Retrieved 2010-08-19.
  45. ^ "Mario Balotelli moves closer to Man City return". BBC Sport. 28 September 2010. Retrieved 29 September 2010.
  46. ^ {{cite web}}: Empty citation (help)
  47. ^ "Un prodigio ma non è azzurro" (in Italian). Avvenimenti. 8 December 2006. Retrieved 8 December 2006.
  48. ^ "Le Roy names 20 for friendly". Ghana Football Association. 7 August 2007. Retrieved 22 August 2007.
  49. ^ "Stars to tame the lions today". The Statesman. 21 August 2007. Retrieved 22 August 2007.
  50. ^ "ESCLUSIVA TMW – Inter, il baby fenomeno Balotelli si racconta" (in Italian). TuttoMercatoWeb. 1 June 2007. Retrieved 19 July 2007.
  51. ^ "Casiraghi: "Occhio a Messi noi partiamo da Nocerino"" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. 16 May 2008. Retrieved 17 May 2008.
  52. ^ "Casiraghi convoca Balotelli" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. 29 August 2008. Retrieved 29 August 2008.
  53. ^ "Balotelli plots Italy's progress". UEFA. 15 October 2008. Retrieved 16 May 2009. [dead link]
  54. ^ "Casiraghi disappointed with Balotelli attitude". Football Italiano. 12 February 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2009. [dead link]
  55. ^ Peter Staunton (19 June 2009). "Ten-Man Italy Defeat Sweden After Balotelli Sent Off". Goal.com. Retrieved 19 June 2009.
  56. ^ Italy (2010-02-18). "The Media Is Not Fair To Mario Balotelli - Inter Legend Sandro Mazzola". Goal.com. Retrieved 2010-07-10.
  57. ^ "Casiraghi impressed by duo". Football Italia. 2010-03-03. Retrieved 2010-07-10. [dead link]
  58. ^ "Focus on the Azzurrini, Mario". Football Italia. 2010-03-05. Retrieved 2010-07-10. [dead link]
  59. ^ "Italy turn to Balotelli, Cassano". FIFA.com. 6 August 2010. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
  60. ^ "Italy 0 - 1 Ivory Coast". ESPN Soccernet. 2010-08-10. Retrieved 2010-08-19.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mario Balotelli.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mario_Balotelli&oldid=395423228"